With a huge picture of Petty in the background, lead singer Brandon Flowers, dressed as sharply as ever in a shiny red and gold jacket, implored the crowd to "pay some rock and roll respect" to the "masterful" Petty.

Petty passed away as the result of an accidental overdose on pain medication shortly after the completion of the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary tour. It was later revealed that he had been diagnosed with a fractured hip but refused to cancel the tour's 50 remaining dates.

Flowers is pulling double-duty tonight, as he was previously scheduled to deliver the induction speech for the Cars later in the ceremony. Bon Jovi, Dire Straits, the Moody Blues, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe will also be inducted tonight.

The 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be broadcast on May 5 at 8PM ET on HBO.